Get Answers to Tough Questions with the Lexham Bible Guides

Darren Aronofsky’s film Noah has created quite the stir. Regardless of whether we agree with his portrayal of Noah, we must admit he does raise some interesting questions about this important biblical account. After seeing the movie, I left the theater wanting to know more—wanting to find answers to these tough questions. I’m sure others did, too. But where can we find all the best scholarship and interpretations collected in one place? The Lexham Bible Guide: Genesis 1–11 is our answer.

Let’s take a look at how the Lexham Bible Guides can help us find some answers to these controversial issues.

The nephilim

In the film, Aronofsky includes a giant clan that helps Noah build the ark; he calls them “the watchers”—conflating several traditions from the ancient world and later literature (and perhaps adding his own spin). Let’s see what the biblical text and other significant literature have to say about Genesis 6:1–4:

The dominant view, held by Sarna, is that [the nephilim] are the offspring of the union between the sons of God and the daughters of humankind, and thus are also the “mighty men” or “heroes” (gibborim) of Gen 6:4. This interpretation finds support in the Septuagint, which translates the word nephilim as “giants.”

This section from the Lexham Bible Guide also lists a number of other perspectives and where you can find them:

The Lexham Bible Guides list all the major interpretations of critical issues, so you can compare and contrast each viewpoint and come to your own conclusions.

Ancient Near Eastern flood stories

As you’re digging deeper into the biblical flood account, you might discover that it has parallels in other ancient cultures. Aronofsky could be pointing to these other stories by setting his film outside any recognizable period in history. The Lexham Bible Guide includes sections that dig into the flood story’s historical and cultural background:

These are just two examples of how the Lexham Bible Guides can serve as the ultimate resource as you seek answers to the tough questions raised in the Bible. We’ve done all the research for you. Begin your search now, while the questions are fresh in mind.